Elizabeth Lombardi
Profile
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Time ZoneEastern
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OrganizationCornell University
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RoleScientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online
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Research Interests (300 words)I study the ways that plants respond to environmental cues and conditions, especially when confronted with threatening circumstances. While most of the questions I ask tend to use ecological frameworks, there is an ever-present evolutionary context that continues to challenge and expand my knowledge of plant science. Two of the main questions that I ponder are:
1. How does host phenotype mediate viral resistance or expansion?
Recent research suggests that plants in natural and managed ecosystems are exposed to viral pathogens regularly, but relatively little is known about the population and community consequences of viral load. I am interested in host traits that mediate viral susceptibility from individual to population scales.
2. Are non-cultivated plants viable crop alternatives for increasing human food nutrition and security?
Climate change and increasing environmental variability threaten agricultural security and human nutrition across the globe. This is especially concerning for cash crops bred to prioritize biomass production over endogenous defenses. I am interested in applying patterns in plant ecophysiology to location-appropriate food production.
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Profile Question 1When and why did you decide to go into a science career?
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Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):This morning, I woke up thinking about plant physiology on Earth versus in space. Yesterday, my afternoon was spent with a local botanist and my fellow teaching assistants, preparing for our upcoming field biology lessons. Tomorrow, I hope that there will be a new cohort of pre-scientists eager for the pursuit of knowledge and thorough explanations. To me, science is a way to think critically about assumed ‘facts’; plant science is a context in which to ground a holistic appreciation for the absurdity of existence. Beyond the philosophical, however, is my love of the lifestyle. I chose to be a biologist because I wanted to dedicate my time and energy to something worthwhile and collaborative, and because through science the complexity of life feels understandable.
This is not how I have always felt, though. Unlike many of my peers and mentors, my path to science did not begin with a kindergarten insect fascination or Friday nights spent memorizing constellations. Instead, I took my time and built an academic resume reflective of a true liberal arts approach. My love of Victorian English literature has not (yet) provided tools relevant to plant biology, but my understanding of global connectivity and the importance of plants for human and ecosystem wellness were first framed through a political science perspective. It was not until my second year of college that I finally decided to pursue a degree in biology, despite the lengthy game of ‘catch-up’ it would entail, and I have been enamored by plant biology ever since.
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Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?2
Recent Posts
sdhsnixonspring2018 project 1
Elizabeth Lombardi
Hi, Kim.
The class is covering other content for a brief period of time. They will be back online in about a week! Thanks for checking in!
-Lizzie
EFFECT OF LIGHT INTENSITY ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Elizabeth Lombardi
Hi, Amanda. The students are not active for a short period of time. They will be back soon!
sdhsnixonspring2018 project 4
Elizabeth Lombardi
Hi, Cayleene and Carleen!
I hope you are both well. I am going to step in as an added resource for you during the experiment, and it sounds like you've already gathered some interesting data!
Adding salt or sugar to water…
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